Heel-loading machine.



E. BRIGKSON.

HEEL LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY5.1907. RENEWED NOV.7. 1913. 1,1 14,243.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I, H6 23 I Mrzctm ,Z'aZwarw 76:5 07f THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ,WASHINGTON. D. c.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

E. ERICKSON.

HEEL LOADING MACHINE.

YAPPLIOATION FILED JULY 5. 1901. RENEWED NOV.7, 1913. 1, 1 14,243.

L-J Z0 fir: t 0?" alfziaaraz 'z aczfisa: c

a $60 7": ta 5 HI! NUKKIb PETERS C0 PHOTO LIT/L WASP4INOTON D 1 wm Q MY/LZV /W E. ERIUKSON.

HEEL LOADING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED IULYS. 1907. RENEWED nova, 1913.

1 1 14,243, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

9 THE NORRIS PETERS (70.. PHOTD-LITHO. WASHINGTON. r). c.

E. ERIGKSON.

HEEL LOADING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED JULY5. 1907. RENEWED NOV.7, 1913.

Patented 001;. 20, 1914.

7 8HEETSSHEET 4.

76 florvze 5.

THE NORRIS PETERE Cn PHOTO-LITHJ., WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. ERIGKSON.

HEEL LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED nJLYs. 1907. RENEWED NOV.7,1913.

1,1 14,243. Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6. $3

W07? Ce ,5,

YHE NORRIS F'EYERS (0.. PHOTO-LITHOY. wAsHINL; TON. U, C

E. ERIGKSON.

HEEL LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. 1907. RENEWED NOV.7. 1913 1,1 14,243. Patented001;. 20, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

- jazzaaraz fi a czisar r MM. W A (1%: 7") C8 ,5,

THE NORRIS PE HERE (0.. FHOYQLITHQ. WASHINGTON. '1 r B. ERIGKSON.

, HEEL LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY a. 1907. nnnnwnn uovur, 1913.

1,1 14,243. Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

7 SHEETS-11231 7.

tumQm ag 934W.

fizz/Jaw? Emcifso; &

THE NGR'RIS PETER: u).. PHOYO-LITHfin-WASHINGTUN. D, C

- IT D STATES I EnwARnEnIoKsoN, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR rozrnn novnsron ,MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or Bos'roN, MASSACHUSETTS, Aoonronnrronor NEW JERSEY.

HEEL-LOADIKG; imcrrmr.

Specification ofjLetters Patent. Patented Oct,

I Application filed July 5, 1907, Serial 110,382,172. Renewed Noveinber7, 1913. Serial No. 799,813.

inserted in a heel preparatory to its attachment to a shoe. v

The object of the invention is to expedite the operation of suchmachines so as to greatly increase the output thereof, and thus reducethe cost ofmanufacture of a shoe.

In the illustrated embodiment of'the invention, this objectisaccomplished as folthrough the machine on a plane above the fcarriersfor the heels and the nail-holders. Fig/leis a fragmentary sectionalview illus- 5 trating the raceways and the adj acentmechfanism. Figs. 5and 6 illustrate ,the pick, ing device which cooperates Withthe ,ends ofthe raceways for-simultaneously picking the required number of nails.Fig. 7 (Sheet %3) represents a section on the line 7-1-7 of vFig. 4.Fig. Srepresents an enlarged verr t'ical section throughthe rotatablecarriers for the heels and thenail-holders. Fig.9 lrepresents anenlarged section through the mechanism for feeding the nails to theircarriers. ,Fig. 10 is (a fragmentary view Z-illustrating the ends of tworaceways and the passageways leading therefrom to regceive the nails asthey are picked. Fig. .11 rep resentsin plan viewthe carrier for thelows: I provide a plurality of holders for.

the nails or other fastenings, which are moved successively intooperative relationto heel blanks likewise successively fed into properposition. The nails,or other fastenings, are supplied from a suitablesource through raceways to thenail-holdersasthey I v n t haveillustrated as embodying the invention;

are successively moved into 'a nail-receiving position. 1 Thenail-holders are mounted upon a rotatable support or carrler which isadvanced with a step-by-step motion so as to bring each holder, afterit- 'has been sup:

plurality of drivers mounted upon a driving head by which the nailsare-driven into a heel blank placed therebeneath. The heel blanks arepresentedsuccessively to the nail-holders and the nail-driving mechanismby means of a carrier which is preferably arranged to rotate about anaxis with a stepby-step movement. Arranged 1n proximity to the carrier,there is a punching mec'ha nism comprising ahead with a plurality ofawls or punches for forming perforations in the heel blanks prior totheinsertion of. the nails, so that, in the operation .of'the machine, eachheelis first perforated and then moved into position to receive thenails which are forced. into it by the drivers, and then discharged fromthe carrier, by a suit able mechanism. Referring to theaccompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a machineembodying the invention. Fig. 2

represents the side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section 'Ehee ls. Fig. l 2 represents asectional view jthrough the carrier and its inclosing casing, togetherwith the parts immediately there'- beneatli. Fig. 13 illustrates thedevice which controls the clamping of the heels.

Before describing: ythe machine I which I I desire to have it understoodthat the inventmn maybe embodied in' various other forms of the machineand is not limitedito: fthe details of construction and arrangementwhich I have illustrated, nor to loadingthe. heel blanks; with theparticular kind :of

fasteners shown and described; and that the.

phraseology whichI have employed is for the purpose of descriptionandnot of limitation.

y The machine-is illustrated as having an upright main framesubstantially rectane gular in plan view. It has the base 20, the sides21, 21, which are suitably connected by form, such for. instance, asthat'1to be de-' scribed. A main driving-shaft 27. is jour- A cross-head23, which, in the naled in the frame and has on its projecting end fastand loose pulleys 270, 28, with which may be engaged a driving belt. Thesaid shaft 27 carries a gear 29 intermeshing with and driving a gear 30arranged on a shaft 31 ournaled in the frame. said shaft is affixed adisk 32 having a camgroove 33. Secured to the two upright bars 24, 24,near their lower ends is a cross-bar 34 which is equipped with a roller35 entering the cam-groove 33, so that, as the shaft 31 is rotated, thecam efi'ects'the reciprocation of the cross-head 23.

Arranged above the table 22 are two rotary carriers 36 and 37, theformer being for the heel blanks and the other for the nailholders, asillustrated in Fig. 3. The carrier 37 overlaps the carrier 36 (see Fig.8), being arranged in a plane aboveit, so that a nailholder may bepositioned above a heel blank. The carrier 36 is mounted upon an uprightshaft 38 journaled in the table 22. On the lower end of the shaft 38 is.a disk or wheel 39 which forms the driven member of a Genevastop-motion, the other member 40 of which 3) is secured upon an uprightshaft 41 journaled in the frame. The shaft 41 is equipped with a bevelgear 42 with which intermeshes a driving bevel gear 43 on the shaft 31hereinbefore referred to, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The member 40 isprovided with an arm 44 carrying a roller 45 adapted to successivelyenter radial slots or grooves 46 in the disk ofmember 39, to impart astep-by-step rotation to said member and consequently to the heel-blankcarrier. The member 39 has its periphery concaved as at 47 to receivethe convex portion or peripheryof the member 40, and hold said member39- at a state of rest after it has been fed one step and until the-roll45 enters the next succeeding groove or slot therein. The

Geneva stopmechanism, or other power transmitting mechanism whichmay b'eemployed in lieu thereof, is so constructed that the carrier for theheel blanks will be advanced one step, as through an arc of 90 for eachcomplete rotation of the shaft 41; and as the bevel gears 42, 43, havethe same number of teeth, the cross-head is reciprocated once for eachadvancement of the carrier. The parts are so timed that thecarrier isadvanced as the cross-head is completing its upward stroke and isdescending through the first portion of its downward stroke.

Secured upon the table 22 is a hood or casing 50. This is inthe form ofan inverted cup with an outstanding flange 51 which is secured to thetableby suitable fastenings. The casing is cut away at its rear portionso as not to overlap the carrieri37. It is provided with an aperture 52at the front through which the heel blanks maybe fed to the carrier.Over this aperture may be Upon placed any suitable chute or feedingdevice for supplying heels automatically to the carriers. As shown, theheels may be supplied successively by hand, but I have contemplatedutilizing any one of the various feeding mechanisms that have beenheretofore suggested for successively feeding them. At 53 there isanother aperture in the hood or casing to the right from that at 52 andat an angle of 90 therefrom. This aperture is located over the point atwhich the heel blanks are discharged from the heel-carrier after theloading operation has been completed. To the left of the aperture 52 andat an angle of 90 therefrom, there is detachably set into the hood orcasing a disk or block 54 having a flange 55 (see Fig. 12)

overlapping the upper surface of said hood.

-This block or disk is provided with a plurality of apertures '56through'which the awls or punches may descend for the purpose of formingperforations or holes in the heel blank.

The carrier 36 is provided with four radial slots 57, as shown in Figs.11 and 12. The end wall 158 of each slot serves as a guide and clampingmember, against which ,the breast of the heel blank is forced by thecomplemental clamping member 58, of

which oneis placed in each of the slots. Each clamping member 58 isprovided at its inner end with an upstanding pin 59 projecting upwardlythrough a radial slot 60 in a disk 61 placed upon the shaft 38. Each ofthe clamping members 58 is forced yieldin l outward b a s Jrin 62 arraned in a a y a: b

socket in the inner end of the member and bearing against the inner endwall of the slot 57 as shown in Fig. 12. For the purpose of controllingthe movable clamping members 58 so that they will, at the proper times,engage and release the heel blanks, the hood 50 is centrally aperturedto receive the upstanding ends of the pins 59 and also to receive acam-guide 64 formed on a plate 65 suitably affixed upon the said hood,(see Figs. 12 and 13). The cam 64 is stationary, and, as the carrier 36is advanced step-bystep, each pin 59 engages said cam and is forcedinwardly so as to release the heel clamped by the member which carriesthe said pin, as the said member reaches its discharging positlon. Thecam 64 is long enough so that the clamping member 58 is held in tswithdrawn position until the carrieris advanced one step, so that theheel blank may be fed into the carrier in posi tion to be clamped. Assoon as the carrier begins the next step, the pin rides off from Toprevent the heel carrier at the front of the machine a stationarysupport 66, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, and in full linesinFig. 8.

The carrier 37 for. the nail-holders is formed with a hub 67, and itisloosely journaled upon an upright shaft 68 fixed in the table.22,1asillustrated infFig. 8. To said hub 67 thereis attached a gear 69, whichintermeshes with gear teeth formed on the periphery of the carrier 36.The ratio of the'toothed carrier 36 to the gear 69 is as 2 to 1, so thatas the carrier 36 is advanced through an arc of 90,,the carrier 37isadvanced through anarc of 180. In case the carrier 37 has a greaternumber of nailholders than is shown, the ratio will be correspondinglychanged; The carrier 37 is formed with apertures to receive a plurality(in the present instance two) of the nailholders 7 O. The apertures arecircularz and the nail-holders are cylindrical, being pro vided at theirupper edges with peripheral flanges 71 so that they may be easilysecured in place by suitable fastenings, as, for

instance, screws 72.. The nail-holders are.

arranged diametrically opposite from each other and are equi-distantfrom the axis of the rotation of the carrier. As the heel blank carrieris advancedone step, a nailholder is brought into registration with aheel blank, so that the nails carried by the nail-holder may be driveninto the heel blank and into the perforations or'apertures previouslyformed therein, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8. Each nail-holder isprovided with a plurality of apertures 73, properly I spaced to receivethe nails, each nail-holder in the present case being shown as providedwith nine of said apertures. The nail holders are removable and Iprovide for each machine a plurality of such holders for heels ofdifferent sizes. The nails are fed into the nail-holders successively,one nail-holder beingfilled with nails, while the other isin position topermitthenails therein to be driven into the heel blank; In order toprevent the nailsv from dropping through the apertures in the holdersuntil the proper time, I formradial slots or guide-ways 74 in the underside of the carrier and place therein slides 7 5,, each slide carrying aplate or gate 76, which is provided-with perforations equal in number toand spaced correspondingly with the apertures in the nail-holder underwhich the plate lies. .Each plate is removable from its slide so that itmay be replaced by an: other one corresponding to theholderuwith whichit is to be used. The slides and plates are movable from a positionwhere cheap ertures in the plates. register with the apertures in thenail-holders, to a position where the imperforateportions of theplateare beneath the apertures 7 3, and toaccomplish this each slide 75 isprovided with an upstanding pin. 175., onwhich there is a roller 77.These rollersextend into a camc groove '78 in a cani'disk 79, rigidlyaffixed, I

as by a screw 80, to, the upstanding shaft 68. The disk 79 is so placedand the cam groove is so'formedthat just as a nail holdermoves intoposition toregister with a heel blank on the heel blank carrier,,theplate 76be neath said holder is moved radiallyoutward to cause theseperforations'to register with the'perfora'tions in the holder, and thuspermit the nails to be discharged.

The cross-head 23, which I have previously described, isprovided withtwoheads, v

80 The headfor the awls driver head 82 is dove-tailed into the crosshead23 and it ,islocated above the floverlapping portions of the heel :blankcarrier.

36 and the nail-holder "carrier 37, so that the driver 84 willregisterwith the apertures I in each nail-holder as it reaches a position ofregistration with a heel blank on the heelblank carrier. I provide foreach machine a plurality of awl-carrying and nail-driving heads forheels of difl'erent sizes or' shapes with the awls and drivers properly,spaced for the purpose. Q

As thus far explained, it will beunderstood that each timethecrosshead23 is reciprocated, the heel-blank carrier is advanced one step throughan arc of'90 and the nail-holder carrier is advancedone step through anarc of 180. As the'cross-head moves downward,; the awls formperforations in one heelblank and the drivers, ,en-

tering the apertures in'the loaded nail-' holder, drivethe nails thereininto the apertures formed in the heelblank, which was previouslyperforated by the 'awl.

For the purpose of resisting thethrust I of the awls upon the heelblanks, I place jack under the awls and below the heelblank carrier, asshownin Figs. 1 and 124 This jack is indicatedat 87 and it is mountedupon-the upstanding spindle 88, which is arranged to slide in aguide 89formed in the table 22. The lower end of this spindle is pivoted to alever 90 fulcruined at 91 to one of the side walls of the frame. Thesaid lever has a roll 92 placed in a cam groove 93 in adisk 94: rigidlysecured upon a shaft I 95 extending from front to rear of'the machineand ournaled insultablecross-braces.

The shaft is ro tatedby beveled :gears 96, 97'

(seeFig. 2), the former being secured to the shaft 41', and the latterto the 'shaft95. The bevel gears have the same number of teeth and areof the same size, so that thejack 87 is raised to engage and support theheel hlank registering therewith, each time the cross-head isreciprocated, whereby the heel blank is supported against the downwardthrust of the awls. It is also necessary to support the heel. blankduring the operation of driving the nails thereinto. Consequently Iplace below the driving head 82 andbeneath the heel blank carrier a jack1 11, as shown in Fig. 8. This jack, as well as that at 87, is shaped toconform to the curved face of the heel. It is secured upon a spindle orrod 1&2 which is adapted to slide in a bearing 143 formed on the table22. The lower end of the spindle is provided with a roller 1414 (seeFig. 2), which enters a camgroove 145 in the cam disk 94 hereinbeforereferred to. The cam groove is so shaped that the ack is raised toengage the heel immediately prior to the engagement of the drivers 84:with the nails so that the insertion of the nails in the heel blank maybe properly accomplished. The operation of the two jacks by the singlecam disk insures theiraccurate cooperation with the awl and driver headin pricking the heel blanks and driving the nails. After each heel blankis loaded and the clamping memberis withdrawn, as previously described,it drops from the carrier upon a chute 98 which extends through the sideof the hood 50, as shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of indexing the carrier 37 and thereby causing anaccurate registration of the drivers with the apertures in thenailholder, the carrier37 is provided with two apertures 99 which arediametrically oppositely arranged as shown in Fig. 3, and thecross-headis provided with an indexing pin 100, the lower end of whichis tapered so that as the cross-head descends,,the pin will enter theforward aperture 99 and accura'tely locate or position the carrier 37.The pin may be made long enough, as shown, so

as to pass through the aperture 99 into an aperture 101- in theheel-blank carrier and in.- dex that likewise, although I do not findthis to be essential. 1

I will now describe the instrumentalities by which the nails aresupplied to the nailholders from one or more sources of supply. 5

I provide a plurality of nail-hoppers, in the present case employing.two, although more or less may be used. Each hopper has a rotary drum102 mounted upon a shaft 103 journaled in a bracket 104, and an initialnail-receiving pot 111, with an inclined bottom 112, whlch discharges inthe rotary portion 102 ofthe hopper. The drum of each hopper is providedwith lifting buckets 105 for lifting the nails and discharging them intotheracewaysa The drums 102 are rotated from a transverse shaft 106journa-led in the sides of the main frame. On the outer ends of thisshaft are belt wheels 107, from which belts 108 extend to the drums,being placed in peripheral grooves therein. The shaft 106 is providedwith a worm gear 109, with which intermeshes a worm 110 on the end ofthe shaft 95, hereinbefore described.

Between the pots 111' there is a plate 114:, as illustrated in Fig. 4.This plate forms a support for the lower ends of the raceways, thepicking mechanism and the guides for the nails. I employ as manyraceways as there are apertures in each nail-h0lder. In the presentinstance, I have illustrated nine raceways, four extending from onehopper and five from the other hopper. These raceways areindicated at115 and 116, those leading from one hopper being indicated by the formernumeral and those leading from the other hopper being indicated by thelatter numeral. The raceways in each set are placed side by side at aninclination both to the vertical and to the horizontal, and lead fromthe drum 102 through the pot downward to a block 117, which issuperimposed upon a block 118 secured to the plate 114, by one or morescrews 119, as shown in Fig. 9.

I Each raceway consists of rabbeted bars 120,

120,.secured together, as shown in Figs. 5 a and 7, and a cover 121separated far enough from the upper edges of the bars-to permit the freepassage of the nails down the raceway. The block 117 is provided with an5 aperture 122 at the end of each raceway, the

aperture being of irregular form or keyhole shape, as shown. The nails aare illus- ;trated as of the usual character employed i for loadingheels, (being known as collar nails), and have heads and collars orflanges 3 immediately below their heads, though fastenings of otherkinds may be employed. As each nail passes from the end of the race-'=\vay, it drops into the smaller end of the aperture 122 and itsdownward movement is arrested by theengagement of its collar with thesurface of the block surrounding :the smaller portion of the aperture.These apertures 122 are suitably spaced, being substantially in the samerelatioi to eachother gas are the apertures in the nail-holder, andconsequently some of the raceways are longer than others, as shown inFig. 5.

1 thereof.

A suitable picking mechanism is utilized to move the nails from thesmaller portions of the apertures 122 to the larger portions Forconvenience, this picking mechanism consists of a single picker 123,which has at its edges notches 124C for the nails, adapted to registerwith the ends-0f the raceways and with the smaller portions of-theapertures 122. The edges of the picker 125 adjacent the notches serve asstops to prevent the feeding of the nails through the raceway when thepicker plate IiS advanced, as will be explained. The said picker isformed with an elongated slot 126 through which a guide 127 extends,said guide being secured to the block 117 by a screw 128. i

129' is an inverted L-shaped lever of which the lower end is fulcrumedupon a stud 130 carried by ears formed 011 a cross-bar 131.

The ends of the cross-bar are affixed to the guldes or bearings 26 onthe table 22. The;

lever 129 has at the junction of its two extremit'ies'a stud 132 whichoccupies a cam slot 133 formed in a'plate 13 i affixed to and .movablewith the cross-head 23.- The upper extremity ofjthe lever 129 ispivotally connected to the nail picker 123 by means of a link 135, andthe cam slot 133 is of such shape that, as the cross-head moves down-Ward, the picker 123 is moved rearward and the notches 12% therein carrythe lowest nails a in the raceways rearward topermit them, to dropthrough the larger portions of theapertures 122; hence, each time thepicker is moved rearward, the proper number of nails are simultaneouslydischarged,

from the raceways, and, through the means to be described, are deliveredto the na1l holder which is in position to receive them.

The block 118 is provided with apertures 136 registering with the largerportions of the apertures 122 topermit the passage of the nailstherethrough. The blocks 117 and blocks 1.17, 118, 138. 139 and thetubes 137 of which extend into ablock or plate 138,

and the lower ends of each extend into a smaller block or plate 139,which is in a plane immediately above the upper surface of the carrierfor the nail-holders. ,The

blocks or plates 138, 139, are secured to gether by ascrew lLO. Theplate 138 is dovetailed into the underside of the supporting plate11,Ias shown in Figl, and,

it is held against movement by a set-screw 141. The supporting plate 114is apertured as at 1 1 1, to communicate with the passages through thetubes 137 and'the blocks or plates 138 139. The passages inthe allconstitute conduits for leading or guiding the nails from the pickingmechanism and the raceways to the nail-holders. I RI have shownthevarious parts last referred to as detachable, so that thevmaybereplaced ,byotherstadapted for heel-blanks of other sizes. Thearrangement and spacing of the delivery endsjof the raceways is pre Thepicker is reciprocated by the following devices, although other power--transmitting mechanism may be employed.

'cisely'the same as that ofthe nail apertures otherL Furthermore, thedelivery ends of the raceways are so arranged with relation to theconduits; that the nails move all in thesaine direction when" beingtransferred from the raceways to the conduits.

due to this arrangementof the raceways by It is evident thatotherformsof guiding means mightbeutilized than those I have described.

variousxparts has been set forth in connecto state that for eachreciprocation of the cross-head a heelblank is fed and perfothe drivers,and a loaded blank is discharged from the heel-blank carrier. Thepicking mechanism is operated to permit the-discharge of a proper numberof nails position over the perforated heel blank, and the .nails aredriven therefrom into the blank. Each heel blank is thusmoved firstpunchedthereinby the awls, thence towa position where it receives thenails from where it is discharged from the carrier through the chute 98intoa suitablereceptacle' provided for the purpose.

It 1 will be observed that, while the awl holders and theirgates, andthe blocks and -co'nduitsfor thennails are all detachable aspreviouslyjdescribed to be replaced by others particularly adapted forheel blanks of other sizes or. shapes, the clampingmembers onthe heelblank carriers are not necessarily deends with'reentrant angles,orV-shaped ,re-

engage and properly positionheel blank s of for larger or smaller heelblanks as the case may require. To secure the same elasticity of themachine with reference tothe mechanism for delivering the nails totheholders, it will be seen that theraceways are not rigidly orunremovably attached; on do the contrary" the removable blocks 117, and118 =of the raceways are frictionally inserted, and the racewaysarelaterallyadjustable so that they may be operatively engaged with the Thesimplicity of the transferring device .123 is i The operation of "themachine need not be described in detail,las the operation of the,

tion with z'theirdescription. It is sufficient the" nail-holder, andthence to a position:

tachable. I form these members, "at their cesses, as shown inFig. .11,so that they willv have lateral recesses in which the ends in the nailholders. The nail conduitsmay therefore be straight and parallel to eachwhich the "nails are all brought together from their jseveralrremotesources to. the. relative positions in which they go into the 1 rated,"a perforated blank is movedunder to a nail-holder, the h'olderis carriedto a to a position where the apertures are 0. head, th e, driver head,the awl guide, the nail different sizes and shapes. ,The carrier 36itself maybe easily removed from its shaft 38,, and 'replaced by anothercarrier adapted blocks used for other sizes or shapes of heels. In somecases, instead of adjusting the race ways and all the blocks, I havecontemplated making only the blocks 138, 139 and the tubes removable,and replacing them by others in which the conduits therethroughoutattempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or allof the modes of its use, what I claim is 1. In a heel loading machine,the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a carrier, aplurality of nail holders, each having spaced nail apertures means formoving said carrier, and mechanism for feeding groups of nailssuccessively to said holders, comprising a plurality of nail conduitsterminating in proximity to said carrier,means for supplying nails tosaidconduits, and means for obstructing said nailsupplying means and fordischarging a group of nails simultaneously therefrom a into saidconduits. v

2. In a heel loading machine, the combi-' nation of. the followinginstrumentalities, to wit: a carrier, a nail driving mechanism, naildelivering means, a plurality of nail holders having spaced nailapertures on said carrier, -means for feeding the carrier to causeeachnail holder'to move successively into registration with the naildeliveing means and the nail driving mechanism, means for supplyingnails to said nail delivery means, and means for intercepting the nailsin the nail-deliverii1g means and effecting the discharge. of a completegroup thereof through said .delivering means.

3. In a heel loading machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, to v wit: a movable nail receiver for carrying agroup of nails to the driving mechanism, inclined raceways for thenails, fixed means for receiving a group of nails from said raceways,said means having nail passages through which. the nails may gravitate,said fixed means cooperating with the lower ends of the raceways tosupport the nails by their heads 1n trans t from the raceways to saidnail passages, means for conductmgthe' nails from said fixed means tosaid movablereceiver, 'and a reciprocatory member adapted to move agroup of nails froin'theraceways to said nail passages. i

fl. In aheel loading mechanism, the comQ bination of thefollowinginstrumentalities, to wit: a plurality of ,raceways havingtheir IT ends spaced and arranged in a curved line similar to the curvededge of a heel, said;

racewaysbeing arranged in two groups, means for supplying said racewayswith nails comprising an-elevator for each group,

a picker cooperating with the ends of the 'racewaysto pick groups'ofnails therefrom,

and a holder having nail apertures arranged similarly to the ends of theraceways for receiving nails therefrom.

5. In a heel loading mechanism, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities,

to wit: a plurality of raceways having their ends spaced and arranged ina curved line similar to the curved edge of a heel, means for supplyingsaid raceways with nails, a picker whose sides and end cooperate withthe ends of the raceways to pick the nails therefrom, a holder havingnail apertures arranged similarly to the ends of the raceways forreceiving nails therefrom, a nail driving mechanism, and operativeconnections'between said picker and said nail drivmg mechanism.

6. Ina heel loading mechanism, the com- Ibination of the followinginstrumentalities,

to'wit: oppositely arranged hoppers, a plurality of raceways arranged ingroups of parallel raceways extending from said hoppers, means forfeeding a plurality of nails to said raceways of each group, a blockhaving apertures to receive the nails from the raceways, and a pickerslide on said block adapted toengage groups of nails at the desaidraceways and directly livery ends of deliver them to said block.

7 Ina heel-loading mechanism, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, to wit: oppositely arranged hoppers, a plurality ofraceways extending from said hoppers, a block located between thedelivery nation of a' rotary carrier having apertures therethrough toreceive heel blanks, .a head having a plurality of drivers, a jack inalinement with said head, means for moving said carrier step by step tobring said apertures into registration with said head and jack,mechanism formoving said head and jack toward and from each other, andspring tensloned means 1n each aperture for engaging the curved edge ofthe heel blank to position and hold it centrally in said aperture withthe top and" bottom of the blank. exposed to the action of the jack andthe drivers.

9 In a heel loading machine, the combination of a carrier rotatable'in afixed plane and having heel-blank-receiving apertures, yielding meansfor normally clamping heel blanks in said apertures, a head having aplurality of awls', aheadhaving a plurality of drivers, a jack inalinement with each head, means for moving said-carrier to bring eachaperture therein intoregistration' with said heads and their alinedjacks successively, and means for moving the said acks toward and headsand their alined from each other.

o 10. In a heel loading mechanism, the fcom- I bination of the followinginstrumentalities,

to wit: a rotatory carrier held'against axial movement, having aplurality of I spaced apertures with clamps for the heel blanks, andmeans for operating said clamps'to clamp the blanksin and release themfrom said apertures, means for operating upon said blanks successively,and a movable jack or, abutment movable toward and from said carrier'forengaging said blanks successively to resist the thrustof sa1d meansthereon and prevent the dislodgment of the blanks from said clamps andapertures.

11. In a heel loading mechanism, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities,

to wit a-rotatory carrier, having aplurality of spaced apertures withclamps therein for engaging the edges of the heel blanks, and means foroperating said clamps toclam and release the blanks, in combination wita movable nail holder, and nail driving mechanism, and a jacktosupportthe heel blanks in the nailing operation. V

12. In a heel loading mechanism, the com- ,bination of the followinginstrumentalities, to w1t: 'a rotatory carrier having apertures "Wltllclamps therein for the reception of a plurality of heel blanks,a hood orcasing having an aperture for the feeding of blanks. to said carrier,and'stationary means below apertures and clamps. I

said carrier to position said blanks in said 13. In a heel loadingmechanism-,the' spin-- bination of the following instrumentalities,

- to wit: arotat'able earrier'having apertures and clamps thereinforthereception ofa plurality of heel blanks, a casing having an sionedmeans for normally closing said clamping members, a fixed camfor,opening said clamping members, and cooperating jacking means, and heeltreating means movable relatively to the carrier.

15. In a heel loading mechanism, the com.- bination of the followinginstrumentalities, to wit: a rotatable carrierhaving a plural- 1 ity ofclamping members i for engaging and "clamping heel blanks, means forcausing the opening and closing of said clamping mem bers, ,andfiasupport below and independent ou1e carrier for engaging-and supporting lthe heel blanks prior to their engagement by saidclamping n1embers.' 'v1 i v 16. In a heel loadmg mechanism, the com bination of -the followinglnstrumentalitles to witz; a rotatable carrier having a plurality ofapertures therethrough withclamping members therein for engaging "andclamping the heel blanks, means for perforating the heel blanksgnieansfor driving nails intothe perforated heel blanks,"verticallyreciprocatory jacks in alinement" with said perforating and-nail-driving means, means forrotating thecarrier with a step by step"movement relatively to said jacks and said perforating and 112111driving means, y1eldmg means for normally closing said clamps,

and means for opening said clamps to dis I ,chargefthe loaded heels andreceive heeliblanks to be operated on. 17. In a heel loading mechanism,the-combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: avnaildriving mechanism,.a rotatable carrier, means forfactuating saidcarrier, aplurality of nail'holders thereon, a gate cooperating witheach "nail holder, a slide foreach gate, and a cam for operating saidslides. I 181 Ina heel loading machine thecombination of the followinginstrumentalities, to wit; a nail holder having spaced nail" Iapertures,a carrier therefor, apluralityof -raceways, means for jdep oslting nailsin the:

,raceways, means for 'in'tercept'ing'the nails mule raeeways and forreleasing themg in isuccessive groups, and straight conduits foriconductmg the nails from said releasing fmeans' tothe apertures in saidholder. v I

; 195111 ah6 1 ioadin machin thewflibir i ation of the follinstrument-elites;

i witz a nail holder having spaced nail aper-- tures, a carriertherefor, straight parallel OOIlClUliLS' for conducting-nails tosaldapergtures, and means for deposit ng a" group of nailsojne-into each ofsaid conduits. I

l. 20. ,Aheel loading machine comprising movable ;--head:havingayplurality of nail drivers, a nail holder having nail receiving,apertures spaced the same vas said drivers, means for delivering nailsto said holder, a carrier for moving said nail holder from nailreceiving position to operative relation j with said drivers, said nailholder being afiixed to said carrier, a plate movably mounted on saidcarrier below saidnail holder, said plate being adapted to cover saidapertures, and having apertures arrangedf'to register with the Japertures of said holder when the plate is moved to one position, afixed member, and connections betweensaid plate and said fixed' memberwhereby said plate is moved to said position whensaid nail holder isplaced in operative nail holder having spaced nail receiving apertures,nail raceways for supplying nails to said nail apertures, the deliveryends of said raceways being arranged and spaced the same as thearrangement and spacing of said apertures, conduits for conducting nailsfrom said raceways to said apertures, and means for effecting thedischarge of nails in groups from said racevvays to said con duits. I pg 22-. A heel loading machinecomprising a nail holder having nailreceiving apertures, conduits for conducting nails to said apertures,nail raceways for supplying nails to said conduits, the delivery ends ofsaid raceways being offset with relation to said conduits and arrangedso as to support flanged nails by their flanges while the nails moveacross the ends of the raceways to said conduits, and means for movingthe nails across the ends of the raceways to said conduits while thenails are supported by the race- Ways. 7 p

23. A heel building machine comprising a holder having nail'receivingapertures, conduits for conducting nails to said apertures, nailraceways for supplying nails to the several conduits, and a memberhaving a rectilinear movement for transferring nails simultaneously fromthe several raceways to the several conduits.

24:. A heel loading machine comprising a holder having nail receivingapertures, conduits for conductingnails to said apertures,

nail raceways for delivering nails to said conduits, the delivery endsof said raceways being arranged so that the nails from them all move inthe'same direction transversely of the raceways in moving from the race-Yw'ays to said conduits, and means for moving the nailsffrom saidraceways to said conduits. a

25. A rotatable carrier having a plurality of heel-blank-receivingapertures, clamping members in said apertures for clamping the heelblanks against the carrier, yielding means for normally closing saidclamps, means for piercing the heel blanks in said apertures, stationarymeans for supporting a heel blank in-position to be clamped by saidclamping members, means for rotating said carrier step by step to causesaid apertures to register successively with said heelblanlr-supportingmeans, and means for opening said clamping'members successively as theyapproach said; supportlng means and for holding them open until afterthey start to move away from said supporting means.

26. In a heel loading machine, the combination of the follow nginstrumentallties, to wit: a movablenail recelver for carrylnga group ofnails to the driving mechanism,

inclined raceways for the nails, fixed means for receiving a group ofnalls from said raceways, said means having nail passages through whichthe nails may gravitate, said fixed means andthe lower ends of theraceways cooperating to guide the nails laterally from the raceways tosaid passages and to support the nails by their heads in transitto saidpassages, and a reciprocatory member adapted. to move a group of nailsfrom the raceways to said passages.

27. In a heel loading machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities, to witza movable nail receiver for carrying a groupof nails to the driving mechanism, inclined raceways adapted to supportthe nails bythe under sides of their heads, fixed means for receiving agroup of nails from said raceways, said means having passages out ofline with the raceways through which passages the nails may drop, and areciprocatory member adapted to transfer a group of nails from theraceways to said passages by engaging the edges ofthe nail heads andthereby pushing the nails transversely upon theglo wer ends of theraceWays. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presenceof two witnesses.

EDWARD ERICKSON. Witnesses: E. BATCHELDER,

A. L. FoLsoM.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, I v v Washington, D. C.

